The Nordic energy system is entering a new era, where artificial intelligence (AI) can accelerate the green transition, strengthen resilience, and improve everyday energy use. With world-leading digital infrastructure, ambitious climate goals, and a strong tradition of trust and cooperation, the Nordics are uniquely positioned to shape how AI serves society through energy. 

The opportunities are significant, but so are the challenges. AI can help optimise grids, forecast wind and energy demand, and unlock flexibility, but only if we also address the digital, physical, and human dimensions of this transformation. 

Therefore, the theme for the Nordic Energy Challenge 2026 is:

Powering Nordic AI
for a smarter, more inclusive energy future

We seek ideas that make the Nordic energy system smarter, more efficient, and resilient – while remaining transparent and secure. Solutions should deliver real decarbonisation benefits and promote ethical AI that fosters sustainable behaviour and a just transition. 

This is where you come in!

Nordic Energy Research invites bold, practical, and people centred ideas that tackle three interconnected areas:

1. Digitalisation for a smart, resilient, and efficient energy system

We need scalable approaches to trustworthy data sharing, transparency, automation, and cross-border coordination – without creating fragile or opaque systems.

How can AI and digital solutions simultaneously boost efficiency, security, and interoperability across the Nordic energy value chain?

2. AI and energy consumption

AI can reduce emissions, but it also consumes energy through computing, data centers, and digital services.

How can we ensure that AI becomes a net-positive force for the energy transition? Which innovative set-ups can lower AI’s footprint, steer it toward high-impact use cases, and align digital growth with climate targets? 

3. Behaviour, ethics, and societal trust

AI will influence how people and organisations produce, trade, and consume energy. Nudging and automation should empower users – not exclude or manipulate them.

How do we design AI that supports just participation, protects privacy,  and strengthens public trust?

How to participate  

We encourage all stakeholders to submit a contribution: companies, researchers and other academics, non-profit organisations, business and sectoral associations, thinktanks, students, and individuals. Please submit your abstract to tender@nordicenergy.org to participate in the first stage of this year’s Nordic Energy Challenge. You are also welcome to contact Ingrid Helene Garmann Johnsen if you have any further questions.

The Nordic Energy Challenge is divided into three stages.  

Stage 1
Submit an abstract by 3 March at 13:00 (CET) 2026, at the latest. The abstract should consist of up to 5,000 characters and include a short description of:

  • The challenges and opportunities you are addressing
  • The assumptions that form the basis of your proposal
  • Your methodology
  • Expected outcome and impact of your analysis

All submissions will be examined by the project team at Nordic Energy Research, who on 9 March will announce the submissions that have qualified to participate in the next stage.  

Stage 2
Due on 24 April at 10:00 (CEST), the selected submissions shall be finalised and submitted. The final submission should consist of a maximum 5-minute video with 1-2 pages of complementary text. 

On 4 May, a selected jury will announce the top three submissions, qualified for the final round.  

Stage 3
The selected participants will be awarded at an award event at Folkemødet on Bornholm, Denmark on 11-13 of June.

Nordic added value

There are large benefits in discovering common Nordic solutions to shared challenges.  

Common ground. Each of the Nordic regions and countries are small, but together the Nordic region is the 11th largest economy in the world. Together we have the power and critical mass to lead the green AI transition. 

Transnational added value. The cultural similarities between the Nordic countries underline a potential for sharing and exploring common solutions for engaging citizens in innovative energy projects that can create greater impact and enable a cultural transition in the entire region, instead of only nationally. 

Larger markets. Businesses, citizens, and regions can gain value by a large market that entails competitive prices.  

Knowledge sharing. Common research, knowledge generation, and exchange of experiences can accelerate the development by combining and gathering different resources.

Selection 

Jury 

A selected jury will evaluate the proposals that have qualified to stage 2. The jury will consist of highly qualified representatives from the Nordic energy equality community and from Nordic Energy Research. All members of the jury are obligated to sign a Confidentiality Agreement before receiving any proposals. Thereafter, the jury will assess the submitted proposals on their level of comprehensiveness, innovation, and consideration of Nordic added value. Proposals that are fully founded on existing projects will be rated lower in terms of innovation by the jury.  

Awards  

  • The best contribution will be awarded with an honorarium of 50,000 NOK, the second best with 20,000 NOK, and the third best with 10,000 NOK
  • Selected authors are encouraged to publish a summary of their proposal on the Nordic Energy Research website
  • Authors will be interviewed on videos to be published on the Nordic Energy Research website/and social media channels

Read more about the previous years’ challenges and the competition here.